Scariest part was going up the elevator. Pretty expensive to go up to the 360 view but a must if you want to get the true feeling of the city. Excellent place to take pictures. Once you get to the top, you can pay extra to to the Tilt, but it's not worth it. Don't know if the air conditioner was on the fritz, but it was so hot!!! Bathroom at top only had three stalls so go before you go to the top. Staff all seem to hate their jobs - except for the people trying to get you to buy the pictures they took of you. Gift shop at every turn. read more

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FABULOUS VIEWS FROM THE TOP! Decent gift shop items, though the the price is high. Convenient city location. DO NOT BE DUPED! The price you pay in the lobby DOES NOT INCLUDE THE TILT! Tilting is $7 extra This is why I gave it 3 stars, not 5. We were definitely mislead about pricing. And, all pictures they take of you are an extra fee as well. Highly recommend going at night. No crowds. Got to tilt with just me and my friend. read more

Growing up in Chicago, how have I NEVER been to the 360 Observatory until now?! Came to Chicago on a weekend trip with a group of 12 friends and my friends & I wanted to show them all things touristy...give them a nice taste of the city, so to speak. When deciding between the Sears Tower (it will always be the Sears Tower to many of us Chicagoans), or the John Hancock, we decided that the Tilt 360 experience was the way to go (for our group). Booking the tickets online was fast and easy, and we even got a 10% discount buying them ahead of time. WIN! Plus, we breezed past the line of folks trying to purchase tickets there, which was nice. A quick wait in line for a group photo and trip up the elevator to the 94th floor and we were there. The views were BREATHTAKING! Seriously, so awesome. We spent about an hour there, between walking around, taking in the views and snapping pics, and doing the Tilt experience. You have to pick a time for the Tilt Experience (at least when booking online). We chose 4:30pm as that was right around sunset (4:20), and SO glad we did that! What a perfect time to go! We got to see the city during the daylight, then as the sun was setting and finally as the lights all around Chicago came on. Made for some AWESOME pictures. The Tilt experience ended up scaring the crap out of me, so I chickened out right as the windows were tilting out, lol. But the other folks in my group said it was AWESOME. And well worth the few extra bucks. (Warning, they DO NOT let you take your own pics when doing the actual Tilt experience. We even tried to be incognito and got busted. We did have a friend take them from behind the glass, which was okay.) Definitely recommend checking out the John Hancock 360 Observatory (and even the Tilt experience) if you're visiting Chicago! read more

A must when visiting Chicago. The John Hancock Building offers a 360 view of the city. You get views of it all! The city, the lake, navy pier etc! You can enjoy a glass of wine or a beverage of choice at the top of the tower too. read more

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Giving 3 stars because we did not get to go on the tilt. My friend and I got a city pass booklet, which included a fast pass for the John Hancock Center. This is one of the must-see tourist attractions while in Chicago, I suppose. We arrived before opening time, eager to get a beautiful morning view of the city of Chicago. We arrived at 9am since we went to see the bean at millennium park at 4am. To our surprise, the front door had a piece of paper saying that the Tilt will be closed for cleaning until 1pm. When we did get to the top, the view was nice. It was a bit overcast that day, but the view of the city, especially Lake Michigan was gorgeous. There is a nice wooden area for people to sit facing the west side of Chicago. There is also a bar and a bathroom. The bathroom was a bit hard to find. There is a gift shop on that floor as well. We went on a Monday morning and the John Hancock Center did not begin to get busy until around 11am. My advice would be to go early enough, that way you will not be caught in the line that builds up fairly quickly. read more

Well, I went straight to the top restaurant for the drink & view with just extra $5 more instead of observation floor with the tilt window. Basically, you pay for the drinks & it come with the view. their drink actually really good! Chicago's best sidecar was my favorite read more

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This is a nice way to see Chicago from above. Typically there is a long wait, so its best to get there early in the day. It ain't cheap, but if you Groupon one of the bus tours you can get in at a big discount. This deal seems to be on offer a lot of the time. There is a 360 degree view, which is pretty fantastic. If you want to pay extra, you can stand on the glass and get tilted 45 degrees so that you will be looking down at the sidewalk. A lot of people start shaking during this process, so its just as much fun to watch them as to take part. At the bottom, there is a walk through historical section. Since there was no line when I got there early I went through this Chicago-centric exhibit too quickly, but it looked like it was put together with care and flair. Once you get to the top, ultimately you don't take that long to see what you want to see. It costs a fair amount to go up, can take time, but will really engage you for 15 minutes max read more

John Hancock Center - Looking down at the Hancock Center - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We went up to the observation deck in the lounge area to grab a couple of drinks. View was great, However only a few people at the front tables can truly enjoy it. We would've been interfering with people if we wanted to get a good view and look at it ourselves. Suggestion: pull half of the tables away from the window so there's an area where people can just go up and look out and take pics. We were there for happy hour and paid nine dollars for drinks. My old fashion was one of the best old fashions I've ever had. The service was terrible. Order drink, get drink, disappear... she only had our table and one other. We were done for 10 minutes trying to order another. Overall experience was a little underwhelming but has a lot of potential. read more

The view was amazing.. but! Me and my wife visited on 5/17/2019 at night, because it was her birthday, the view was amazing but the music was ALL in Spanish, why would you play music that 90% of the people there, couldn't understand the words?I noticed a couple employees dancing around enjoying the music but you would think the music would be for the guests NOT the employees! Why not play something that would compliment the experience for the guests? I heard numerous people complain about it, this totally destroyed this for me and my wife and a few others in attendance! read more

Views are 5 stars. Service is slow here especially on a Friday night. Don't expect to show up with window seats without reservations. I seem to Have to come back when I'm in town because I can't get enough if these spectacular views. Haven't eaten here. Godiva Martini is a must for my chocolate lovers! Good place for views and drinks but kinda slow on service. read more

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Came in here mainly for the view and the drinks. It was easy to locate, Google Map took us right to the location. Art installation in the lobby is AMAZING. There were 6 of us in a group and we decided to come in during the sunset time so we can get the day time, sunset and night time view. It was overly crowded. Staff were not attentive at all and it took at least 10 minutes to get someone's attention. We tried to get a good place to enjoy the view but realized that women's bathroom had the best view. If you're visiting Chicago for the first time then I would highly recommend coming here because view is gorgeous, but personally I wouldn't return back. read more

Amazing view. Even the bathroom has a good view. Pee and see the city of Chicago !! Food was ok. Drinks ok too. read more

Most cities have one tall tower for you to go up and view the city, but Chicago has 2! This is generally the one that people forget about because it's a little bit far off from the center of the city, but what I like about it is, that since you're further away you are actually looking at the other tall buildings. read more

Great overview of the Northside, and inner downtown Chicago. My visit here was at the spare of the moment while out cycling. Luckily i had a lock for my bike, and luckily i didn't stay long because there was a local guy eyeballing my road bike. Anyway, i enjoyed my time here, but now as a resident living here i don't see myself visiting John Hancock Tower again, unless i have family or friends visiting Chicago that want to go up. As a resident, i love the attractions we have in Chicago, but it can be draining on days when places are crowded. John Hancock Tower is a fun, and never forgetting experience, if you are visiting Chicago while in the Magnificent mile area. Outside of John Hancock Tower there are many other things along the Magnificent mile strip to keep you in love with our city. Some advice! Catch a cab, pedicab, or ride divvy bikes to get around the city to avoid the headache of parking, and prices for parking. There are many other alternatives also, such as the bus, trolley, and cta, but I would avoid renting a car if you are visiting. Enjoy! read more

John Hancock Center - Putting back on the calories i lost : ) - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Here's the view from the bar! I sat down and ordered an Old Fashioned like I do every time in Chicago. Then right before the waitress brought my drink back, the dude who was sitting people came over and demanded I give up my seat to another couple. Even the couple was like, "you're making him move?!" He was like, "well I'm the seating manager!" I think the guy thought that I wasn't buying anything as he was surprised to hear I had already ordered a drink. The waitress walked over with my drink right then and I just left. Unreal. Might need a new tradition. He offered me the table right next to them, but after you've just spoken to me like a dog that shit on the carpet for no reason, I'm not going to stay. Just down right rude and uncalled for. Great view though if you don't have the guy making you give your seat away. ‍ What an asshole. read more

John Hancock Center - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Wowwwwww is all I have to say to this place! We absolutely LOVED it. We went to brunch here on a Sunday morning, it was a buffet at like 100 floors up where you can see the entire gold coast. It was about 65 bucks per person and it was beautiful. The buffet food was also amazing. We ended up staying here for about 3 hours. Absolutely absolutely loved this place. Make sure you go here when you have some time so you can sit and enjoy the ambiance of this place. Also the workers were so nice. I will definitely be going back here when I go back to Chicago! read more

John Hancock Center - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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This was a cool experience! I loved the views, breathtaking! The ride up on the elevator was a bit sketchy as it shook, but im sure its because of of going 94 floors in 45 seconds!!! The bar was more like a kiosk, if you will. The only thing keeping me from giving it a 5star rating is the fact that the tilt experience was not included and wasn't really clearly explained I don't feel. Definitely check with Groupon to look for some good deals! read more

John Hancock Center - Tilt!!!! - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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So we came here for a private event in the signature room. Usually view from the 96 floor would have been amazing, but with the heavy fog, we saw nothing! The event had a full bar and heavy appetizers, Mac and cheese bar and dessert table. There was so much to choose from lamb chops, beef skewers, chicken skewers, sushi, cheese, and more! Now the Mac and cheese bar...YUM!! Lots to choose from, bacon onions mushrooms and so much more! Smoked Gouda cheese or white cheddar cheese, I chose the Gouda. It was the best part of the night!! The entry of the building was beautiful with its glass sculpture, I uploaded picture. read more

John Hancock Center - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

If you live in Chicago or just visiting, one of the must see places on your bucket list is going to the John Hancock building, it is one of the tallest buildings in the city, it now has the attraction the tilt that tilts you on an angle toward a large floor to ceiling window on the 94th floor for about $20 dollars a person, they also are home to the signature room on the 95th floor a tourist restaurant where you dine 95 floors up while looking at Chicago's famous skyline. Also in the lobby check out their gorgeous art piece called Lucent from a British artist. Ok parking can be extremely expensive I suggest using one of the apps, SpotHero or Parking whiz. The parking to enter the building is off of Delaware street. So all in all a must see. So go check it out for yourself read more

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GOING UP That's the only way to go here! Luckily I get to visit clients here but getting in can be a pain in the butt. In order, to go up the elevator you need an employee pass or a visitor pass. I'm actually in the computer system but for some reason they can never find me and I always have to call up. In fact, in the last year they have only found me once in the computer. I really can't get mad because security is important in a building like this. The views of Lake Michigan are stunning. I love meetings up here. I wish I didn't have to work. Today I think I saw an ice berg heading towards Oak Street Beach. It was a small one, kind of the size that Rudolph, Hermy & Cornelius rode on in the classic story of "Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer" or Will Ferrall in "Elf". No Epic "Titanic" Icebergs were sighted by me today. So Jack & Rose are safe...for now. Talk about the views from up here. If I worked here I wouldn't get anything done if I had a window office. I'd be day dreaming all day long. This building is multifunctional. Not only does it have office space but it also has residential space. Here's a fun sad fact... Chris Farley died here. It's a little ironic he died in a high rise apartment down by the lakeshore. Somewhere a motivational speaker is silent in sadness down in a van by a river. We always lose the big funny guys too soon. Last time I checked John Cusack lived here. He's kind of a quiet Mr. Chicago Guy. This building also has stores and restaurants too. Located on the lower level, 1st & 2nd floors. There's a Best Buy and clothing store. In the lower lever there's a cute Italian sandwich/espresso shop and the tourist trap Cheesecake Factory. As you can tell I'm not a fan of there menu or food. The top floors have a restaurant, bar and observation deck. I always love a drink & a view. In fact, this is my stop on my tour for friends & family. I'd rather pay for a drink then a fee for the observation deck. Sunset is the best time to come up because you get the city view by day and by night. Last but not least you can park your car in here too. This building covers everything. It is one of the most multifunctional buildings I've ever seen. It is also located at the beginning of the shopping Mecca of Chicago...the Magnificent Mile. I can see why many tourist visit the 4th tallest building in Chicago. It doesn't matter if you're a tourist or a local this building is worth a visit because of everything it offers. read more

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A 360 degrees view of Chicago! What's there not to love? Definitely worth coming here if you are visiting Chicago for the first time. Great for pictures after a romantic dinner. I would suggest purchasing the CityPass if you will be exploring the city; the John Hancock Observatory is one of the sites you can visit in the using this pass. read more

John Hancock Center - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The John Hancock Center is home to 360 Chicago a pretty cool observation deck. It is hard to miss this iconic architectural wonder when visiting downtown Chicago. I think that it is the 4th largest building in the Windy City. If you are a first time visitor to Chicago, then a trip up to the John Hancock Center is a nice spot to go. After admiring the sights from the observatory, have a slice of cheesecake at the Cheesecake Factory located in the building. read more

John Hancock Center - An iconic landmark in Chicago. - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Excellent experience. Wether you're a visitor or a resident, this is a must. Buy your tickets via a city pass of some sort. Make sure to go when visibility is clear, otherwise you're just 'wasting' your money. The 360 degree view of Chiraq is incredible. Magnificent. Beautiful. If you're on the fence of wether or not to do the Tilt...do it. You didn't come all the way up to regret what you should have done. It's an amazing experience. Hold on tight. Another HUGE plus is the bar and seating through the space. Nothing like drinking some good bourbon while taking all that Chicago has to offer at the same time. It's a better love story than The Notebook. Trust me. In my opinion, this is better than the Willis Tower. A more complete overall experience. I highly recommend this experience. For everyone. If I lived in Chicago, I would strive to go up there at least once a week or so. Relaxing. Beautiful. read more

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We brought family members here to go to top floor and view. It was a little overcast but view was still great. There was a 30-minute line for the windows that tilt out over the side, so we skipped. The building is beautiful and clean. The elevator travels at too speed. Expect your ears to pop both up and down. The restrooms are clean. We stopped in to the Starbucks on the main floor. This is a busy place due to tourists, but staff are friendly, quick and efficient. There are a lot of homeless in Chicago, as expected. They will approach you at your outside seating at Starbucks, so be aware if this makes you uncomfortable. One homeless man was brazen enough to come enter the Starbucks and approach people in line. I honestly don't know if the staff even noticed. He left after about five minutes. read more

The building is visually appealing from the outside but I can definitely tell that for some of the neighboring buildings around, it casts a shadow. It gives parts of the surrounding block cold, dark alleys that never really get much sunlight throughout the day. It's very guarded looking on all sides except for the front entrance and the side entrance where there are some shops in the 'basement' area. The view at the top is great, but the SkyDeck is taller and there are lots of eateries and some sculptures to be enjoyed in the bottom floors. Nuts on Clark is nearby. read more

Great experience! This was actually my second choice, I wanted to do the Sky Walk but it was closed for a private event, but when I read about the Tilt experience I thought, heck yea! (Check out their page for my review!) We bought our tickets last minute (we got the ones that included a drink once you made it up) and we were on our way! We were so lucky to have great weather, because the views are fantastic up there! There is not a lot to actually do once you're up there, it's one giant loop offering different views. We all got one drink and were ready to leave once those were gone, all in all we probably spent 30-40 minutes up there. Awesome experience! read more

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Amazing views of Chicago! I think there are three ways to take advantage of the views: 360° Chicago - This is basically their observation deck. I think it's about $18 for general admission. The Signature room - This is the restaurant. They serve brunch, lunch and dinner. The Signature lounge - This is what we opted for. For the price of a drink (albeit a pricey drink! Our drinks averaged about $13 each), you have great views of Chicago! And no additional admission fee! Why not have a nice drink while enjoying the views! read more

They have to hire more people to work there. The night view was good, but it took over an hour to ride elevator. There are three elevator but only one moved. read more

I walked past this building and wanted to check out the lobby at least since we were on our way to dinner. This is the second tallest skyscraper in Chicago and my coworker recommend me to try the Signature Room, but we didn't have time during our short trip. The lobby is very cool and I like the decor. If you have the time to check this place out, do so. Come on a clear day and see the view from 95th floor. I heard drinks are about $15 each but that's pretty average price. If you're looking for a cheap drink or food, go elsewhere. read more

it was fine day.. no cloud in the sky.. no noises in the street.. I haven't gone up Empire Building in NYC yet.. cuz I am afraid of heights.. but my uncle.. sigh~ he didn't know.. well.. I was holding my brother's hand from the ground to the signature room at the 95th.. my legs were like Jelly Udon.. WOW~ it's beautiful out there.. could see BLUE Lake Michigan and all the architecturally CHARMING buildings.. Women's restroom!! oh, yeah~ the best Observatory!! had to close my eyes.. OMG!! the BIG window and the private room door was only 10 steps away.. had to sit down on the toilet.. then, could calm down myself.. wheee~~ some silly reputable tourist women took pictures and giggled.. ki ki ki did I say it was FINE day? I SURVIVED!! read more

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The John Hancock Center is an iconic building in Chicago and a pioneer in the true 1000+ ft multipurpose buildings in the world. For about 4 years it stood as the tallest building in Chicago until the Standard Oil Building was completed in the mid 70's (aka Amoco or AON Center). As a multipurpose building it could boast that one could live there and never have to leave. They have several restaurants, retail shops, a grocery store and a mix of offices and residences. Forward thinking back in the 60's leads me to believe that the JHC was ahead of its time. Personally I find the observation deck on the JHC to be a better view than the Willis Tower (Sears). Willis is basically west Loop while the JHC is close to the shore and more residential buildings in Streeterville where you can see pools on top of buildings! It's a cool building and the first "supertall" classified to be built in Chicago. read more

John Hancock Center - From Michigan Ave - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I think the John Hancock Observation deck is better than the Willis Tower. The views are amazing. This is more of a social spot. There is a small bar and lounge chair and tables around. The tilt seems cool too but it is like an extra $8 to get on. Not worth it to me so i didn't pay for it. Great views, cool environment, and there's a bar. Got to check this place out. read more

John Hancock Center - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

A definite must for any tourist, esp for those who live architecture and skyscrapers. Though not sure if it's worth a 30min wait. Perhaps not up to Asian standards but the glass overhang section, is neat and unique. Incredible engineering. Get the pics, it's worth the memories. read more

John Hancock Center - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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While certain aspects of The Hancock Building scream tourist trap (I'm talking to you, overpriced pictures and souvenirs!), the observation deck on the 94th floor provides an unforgettable, panoramic view of the Chicago skyline. The elevator ride is incredibly fast and smooth, making it somewhat bearable to any claustrophobic members of your party. Day or night, the views are spectacular. The crowds seem more manageable in the evenings, though. I enjoyed the historical displays in the lower level waiting area more than I expected. read more

Well there is always something to visiting the Hancock from someone out of town. The biggest thing for me is it screams tourist (of which I am) but that is fine. It offers stunning views of the city and (on a clear day) is totally worth the price of admission. Our visit in late April was overcast, so kind of a bummer we didn't get to see anything. But at least you are forewarned before dropping your shekels for a lift to the top that visibilty is zero. Also I assume the 90+ floors between ground and observation are used but no idea who or what for. Tourism ignorance is bliss I suppose. Anyhow a spectacular view from an iconic landmark in one of my favorite cities to visit. read more

John Hancock Center - Son of Chris G approved. - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

While viewing the city with some friends we decided to make an impromptu visit to the John Hancock. On this occasion; and I'm sure on many, it was very crowded, but we were so excited to get the to the 95th floor observation deck that we really didn't care and would've waited longer. Luckily it was only a 15 minute wait. As we were waiting at the front of the line, I told my sister- look there's Jesse Jackson the civil rights activist and she and our friend were stunned as I pointed him out to them. Which made our impromptu trip, the more interesting. When we boarded the elevator, we didn't know what to expect. First came the dining area the 89th floor I believe, from what we saw it was absolutely beautiful. Then came the 95th floor, all I can say is wow, how did I live in this city before and miss so many spectacular sights. You could see the lakefront and Navy Pier and what seemed to be all of Chicago. It was beautiful, breath taking and wonderful. It made me feel electric and proud to be from such a huge city and once again, at home in Illinois. read more

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Big John. One of Chicago's sexist buildings. The Hancock was designed by the firm that helped solidify Chicago as one of the world's most important architecture city, Skidmore, Owings, & Merrill (SOM). This is currently one of the three tallest buildings in the U.S., completed in 1969, in the boom of skyscrapers that came along during the urban renewal era. Thankfully, the Hancock has a lot of class for a building its size. It soars gracefully above one of the most wealthy urban zip codes in America. Offices, condos, America's highest swimming pool (44th floor), the world's highest residence, several restaurants, and a bar and lounge on the 95th floor all call the JHC home. This place is also known for being the home of Chris Farley when he tragically died in 1997. This is really it, a real Chicago gem, folks. read more

John Hancock Center - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Big John is a CHEAT! I was.. I mean.. I saw this kid playing some of those computer games on the top floor and the computer/Big John totally won every time despite my.. I mean the kid's.. attempts to foil the evil computer. I happened to go and visit the JHC on a cold ass but clear day. Pretty amazing view (uploading a few pix now). Definitely touristy to the nth degree. Before you even get in the elevator they take a picture of you and then try and sell it to you on the top floor. They also have a mock outdoor window type mabob with some cleaning supplies so that you can take a picture behind the glass and it looks like you're cleaning Big John's windows. Hmm.. that sounded dirty. read more

John Hancock Center - Shadows - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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If you're traveling to Chicago for the first time or have some guests coming in from out town for the first time. Come here. Best view in Chicago. Oh, fun fact. The giant trusses on the building (the X beams) on the design of this building are what revolutionized the ability to build skyscrapers to this height, resist wind loads, and reduce the need for structural columns. It's really quite an engineering/historical marvel. Seeing the beautiful grid system of Chicago for miles and miles is something you have to see if you're a first time visitor. read more

Highly recommend. The John Hancock is spectacular and is one if the most powerful buildings I have seen-fyi it went through a name change but no one here knew the new name. You can go to the lounge on the 96th floor or the 95th floor for dinner. If you want to go the lounge you have to wait in two lines. If you have a reservation you only have to wait for an elevator. If you are downtown come check it out! read more

John Hancock Center - This is what a powerful building looks like. - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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